After closing down its original La Cienega location in 2001, Algabar owner Gail Baral traveled the world, picking up unique housewares and artisanal foods along the way. Her homey foreign finds are on display in this new La Brea location.

Walking into the subtly Asian, stylishly minimal Algabar is like walking into a friend's (very high-ceilinged) living room. One of the smiling staff members—often Baral or Wain—greet you at the door and immediately offer a cup of iced or hot tea. Even Baral's little poodle mix Remy, the store mascot, acted like he already knew us, rolling over on his back for a belly rub. Plush chairs and a large couch are set up among the dark wood shelves and imported tables that display Chinese and Japanese tea sets, dinnerware, French soaps and lotions (an olive oil and lavender set that smelled good enough to eat ended up making its way home with us), candles, incense, chocolates and letter-pressed greeting cards. But it's at the back of the store where the real treat lies: Algabar's tasting bar, where all the gourmet foods (including chocolate—yeah, we bought this too) and nearly 50 types of tea are available for tasting. —Lyndsey Saul